Emplectonema kandai is a marine ribbon worm, found in the Aomori Bay at a depth of 35–40 meters, and coiled up on Chelyosoma sea squirts.[1] They are reddish orange in color. They have many eyes. They vary in length, from 53–115 cm, and are about 0.5-0.7 mm in diameter, when they are stretched. It is the only currently known bioluminescent member of the genus Emplectonema, and furthermore is currently the only known bioluminescent ribbon worm.[2] E. kandai flash brilliantly in an internal (non-secreted) luminescence, but only on stimulation. The stimulus may be mechanical, chemical, thermal or electrical. The color of their luminescence is whitish-green.

Emplectonema kandai
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Nemertea
Class: Hoplonemertea
Order: Monostilifera
Family: Emplectonematidae
Genus: Emplectonema
Species:
E. kandai
Binomial name
Emplectonema kandai
Kato, 1939

References

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  1. ^ Kanda, Sakyo (1939). "The Luminescence of a Nemertean, Emplectonema kandai, Kato". Biological Bulletin. 77 (2): 166–173. doi:10.2307/1537919. JSTOR 1537919.
  2. ^ Haddock, Steven H.D.; Moline, Mark A.; Case, James F. (2010). "Bioluminescence in the Sea". Annual Review of Marine Science. 2 (1): 443–493. Bibcode:2010ARMS....2..443H. doi:10.1146/annurev-marine-120308-081028. ISSN 1941-1405. PMID 21141672.